JMC Students' Perception of the Work Environment and Potential Job Stress.

Endres, Fredric F.; Wearden, Stanley T.

A research project focused on the question: Why do students choose to major in journalism and mass communication, and are there indications that those reasons might lead to job-related stress? Four hundred-sixteen undergraduate students in journalism and mass communication (JMC) programs across the country responded to a six-page questionnaire. Question one asked students to rank the five given reasons for selecting their major. All five reasons were found to be statistically significant when analyzed by students' major sequence. Question two asked students to rate 13 statements about JMC occupations. Students had strong beliefs that their fields offered challenging assignments, but also believed that their fields did not offer a great deal of job security. Question three presented students with 12 job-related factors and asked them to rate the factors in terms of their importance and how likely they would be able to achieve them in a professional job. Students were most interested in achieving promotion opportunities but many were not too optimistic about satisfying their needs. Question four discovered where they gained information about the field, by ranking seven sources in terms of where they got the most and the best information. While students said they got most of their information from observing their fields, they also said they got the best information from JMC faculty. The students' needs vs. their expectations often seemed at odds with reality--a potentially stressful situation. (Thirty-four endnotes and five tables of data are included.) (MG)